Gunners open Premier League season with 3 points, but Timber goes down injured

If there’s one observation to make about today’s match is the fact Mikel Arteta won’t be afraid to rotate his squad this season for tactical reasons.

In a surprise move, Gabriel Magahlaes was delegated to the bench, while William Saliba and Ben White started in central defense, with Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey in the fullback positions. The boss also moved Kai Havertz from the false #9 position to play as an attacking midfielder alongside Martin Odegaard.

As many pundits, writers and commentators observed last season, this was one are Arteta needed to improve on as a manager. Now, with a more versatile squad, he should feel more comfortable rotating his players.

So, to wrap-up the Forest match comments in a few words, the Gunners looked terrific in the opening 45 minutes, but looked tentative and slow in the second half.

The final ten minutes become a little too nervy, especially after watching the lads lose their 2-0 lead. However, the final whistle blow with the final score, Gunners 2 – Forest 1.

We can’t go without mentioning Matt Turner who played the entire match in goal for Forest. Just a few, short days ago Matt was lifting the Community Shield with his Arsenal teammates. However, days later Matt is in the opposite goal trying to beat his former teammates. You talk about irony. Wow, that’s crazy.

Also, hats off to Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka for scoring the two goals, and also to Declan Rice and Thomas Partey. Both Rice and Partey played very well, and showed their professionalism and versatility throughout the match.

On a side note, let’s hope Jurrien Timber’s injury isn’t too serious. The Gunners new defensive player is counted on to have a big season, and according to Arteta, more information should be available in a day or two on the extent of Timber’s injury.

Now, the first Premier League test of the season is in the books, and even though we expect the Gunners to look a lot sharper in matches to come, at the end of the day we got the “W,” and are off to a terrific start.

Cheers.

Gunner1953